Improvement in life-boats



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK J. FAOKBELL, OF BELLEVILLE, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN LIFE-BOATS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 151,767, dated J nne 9,1874; application filed September 17, 1873.

a represents the boat, of any desired shapeor construction, having thewell b made through its center, in the usual manner. Connected to theoperating-levers c are the sliding rods d,

which have the weights 6 secured to their. lower ends, so as to act asballast to the boat.

By means of these levers and sliding rods the ballast can be raised orlowered at will, so as to suit the condition of the water. In order toprevent the well from impeding the motion of the boat, a number oftubes, g, are placed in each end of the boat, which allows the waterfrom the well to pass freely out. The boat is divided by the partition hinto two compartments, the lower one, i, of which forms an air-chamber,while the upper one, j, forms the compartment for the passengers. Thisupper compartment is covered over by a water-tight deck, through whichare made the openings 1, through which the upper part of the bodies ofthe passengers projects. In order not only to keep 'the water fromgetting into the boat around the bodies of the passengers, but to assistin holdingthe passengers in the boat, around the top of each opening 1is secured a rubber safety-dress, 1, which passes up around thepassengers body, and forms a water-tight joint as near as possible.These safety-dresses are made elastic, so that the passengers can standup, and have a comparatively free movement without the trouble of havingconstantly to adjust or fasten and unfasten them. One of the openings 1at each end of the boat may i be used as a storage-room for water andprovisions, if so desired. Over the top of the well 9 is placed agrating, 2, upon which articles may be stored, or upon which passengers,in case of necessity, may be placed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- In combination with theboat at, having the openings 1 through its top, the safety-dress 1,substantially as shown.

FRANK J. FAOKRELL.

Witnesses:

J OHN H. MAINE, H. HAMMOND.

